Pinniped Deterrent System

ABSTRACT

An electrical deterrent system including a pulse generator, power source, and substrates with accompanying electrodes for attaching to different types of surfaces and supports on various manufactured structures to repel pinnipeds from a manufactured or man-made structure that otherwise is not intended for pinniped use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/157,738 filed May 6, 2015, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates generally to embodiments for marine mammaldeterrence, and more particularly to embodiments to repel, but notinjure, pinnipeds from manufactured or artificial haulout sites.

2. Description of the Related Art

Pinnipeds, in general, use hundreds of sites to rest or haulout alongcoastal and inland waters, including intertidal sand bars and mudflatsin estuaries, intertidal rocks and reefs, sandy, cobble, and rockybeaches, islands, log booms, docks, and floats in all marine areas.Group sizes typically range from small numbers of animals on someintertidal rocks to several thousand animals found seasonally in coastalestuaries. Naturally, some of the haulout sites are used by the animalsas rookeries, nurseries, and/or both. Still, pinnipeds are at timesusing manufactured structures, such as navigation buoys, jetties, logbooms, marina docks and wharfs, floats and bumpers, and boat landings ashaulout sites that would not otherwise exist without humanmanufacturing.

On land, pinniped alarm reactions are known to consist of a frantic dashfor the water, even if this involves leaping off a high cliff onto arocky beach below. The alarm is highly contagious, and usually spreadsrapidly through an aggregation. If the reaction is low intensity,several animals will simultaneously rear up and look about and thengradually retreat from the direction of the disturbance, or if thedisturbance is more obvious, they will rush to the water's edge beforestopping to look about. Sometimes hundreds of animals stampede into thewater without pausing to identify the source of their disturbance. Afterthey enter the water, they typically begin barking, form rafts, and swimback toward the shore with heads held high from the water as thoughtrying to observe the cause of the alarm.

In the water, known pinniped deterrent technologies that repel, but donot injure the animals implement and utilize acoustic, electrical,optical, and electromagnetic devices. These devices are meant to be usedunder water or while the animals are in the water.

As more and more man-made structures become unintended haulout sites,there is need for a pinniped deterrent that effectively and withoutpermanent injury, causes the animals to exit and/or dismount thestructure and is associated with an aversive stimulus with which theanimals cannot become easily habituated.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to an electrical deterrent system forrepelling pinnipeds from a manufactured or man-made structure thatotherwise is not intended for pinniped use. The system is repeatable,controllable and scalable and includes docking type interchangeablesections, which, for example, are positioned on a boat landing of acommercial use, offshore marine platform. In some embodiments thedeterrent system includes rolled, matting type interchangeable sections,which, for example, are positioned on beams and pipes of the offshoremarine platform. In other embodiments the deterrent system can bemobilized and positioned on the surface of a floating structure. Instill other embodiments, the deterrent can be permanently positioned andintegrated into concrete, recycled-wood composite, open celledfiberglass free draining surfaces.

It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introducein simplified form a selection of examples that are further described inthe detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essentialfeatures of any claimed subject matter that may later claim priority tothe present description. Furthermore, the scope of any such claimedsubject matter would not be limited to implementations that solve anydisadvantages noted above or herein contained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present invention can be better understood withreference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings arenot necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a deterrent system, according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a power source, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a substrate and electrodes, according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the substrate and electrodes shown in FIG.3, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a substrate and electrodes, according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a top-side, perspective view of the substrate and electrodesshown in FIG. 5, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a bottom-side, perspective view of the example substrate andelectrodes shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a top-side, perspective view of the encircled portion of FIG.5, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term pinniped shall mean a semi-aquatic carnivorous genus of marinemammals having limbs modified to be flippers. The infraorder, Pinnipediaincludes common-named seals, walruses, and sea lions.

The term deterrent is taken to mean to cause a pinniped to dismount fromor to discourage a pinniped from entering and reentering onto amanufactured structure. The deterrent is capable of providing anelectrical stimulus which produces a feeling of unease, but does notcause a wild alarm reaction which could result in injury.

The term manufactured structure(s) shall mean artificial haulout sites,such as, but not limited to, navigation buoys; jetties; log booms;marina docks and wharfs; boat platforms; floats; and landing docks,bumpers, support beams, pipes, and braces that are constructed as partof or forming offshore marine platforms. Due to the artificial essencesand characteristics of these sites, use of the sites by the pinnipeds isindependent of tidal levels.

The term offshore marine platform(s) shall mean a commercial usestructure employed in the drilling and production of oil and gas.

The term haulout shall mean the pinniped(s) temporarily leaving thewater between periods of foraging activity for relocation on varioussurfaces of manufactured structures, as the term pertains to the presentdisclosure.

Non-limiting embodiments will now be described in detail, by way ofexample, with reference to the drawings.

Turning to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent likeparts throughout the various drawing figures, FIG. 1 is directed to anon-limiting embodiment of a pinniped deterrent system 100. The system100 includes a pulse generator 200, power source 300, and substrates 400with accompanying electrodes 500 for attaching to different types ofsurfaces and supports on various manufactured structures (not shown).The pulse generator 200 includes a pulse controller 210 that isconfigured to transmit a low voltage non-lethal, pulsed current into thepinniped's (not shown) damp or wet skin tissue when the pinniped makescontact with the electrodes 500. The electrodes 500 are patterned toconform to various surfaces of the manufactured structures by way ofassembled substrates 400.

As FIG. 1 illustrates, the pulse generator 200 includes a pulsecontroller 210 and a power source 300. The pulse controller 210 employsdiscrete gate or transistor logic to yield a pulsating or alternatingwaveform (not shown). In FIG. 1, the DC power is transmitted from thebattery 320 to input switch 220 to provide power switching, over-currentand polarity protection. Next, converter 230 is a DC to DC converterwhich boosts the power source 300 voltage to 24 volts and charges thecapacitor 240 for energy source. Any suitable converter 230 thatgenerates an oscillating waveform of a frequency determined by passivecomponents, such as resistors and capacitors, or inductors may be used.The control logic 260 synchronizes the charging and discharging of thecapacitor 240 to control pulse frequency, width, polarity, and peakcurrent. Further included are output switches 250, local indicators 270,master/slave communication 280, and current monitor 290. Master/slavecommunication 280 is needed when multiple pulse controllers are usedtogether to synchronize operation.

The pulse controller 210 creates a pulsed DC difference voltage betweenadjacent electrodes 500. The pulses are spaced apart, which is known towork as an aversive irritant to pinnipeds, causing them to dismount fromthe electrified surface of the manufactured structure. The pulseduration can be adjusted between about 100 and about 300 microsecondsand control logic 260 is designed to stop the cycle the instant thecurrent exceeds 5 Amps.

It should be understood that an electrically erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM) and a PIC-based microcontroller unit alongwith shift registers (not shown) could be implemented with the presentembodiments, in order to execute instructions from the firmware storedin the EEPROM, and in order to clock the output pulse timing to theoutput switches 250 of pulse generator 200.

The EEPROM may provide memory storage for a data logging function (notshown). The data logging function can be used to record durations,amplitude outputs, and other information and the EEPROM could be queriedfor the data. Other non-limiting configurations of the pulse generator200 and firmware may also be employed by the present embodiments. Stillfurther the pulse generator's 200 components may be further implementedor performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) with internal flash memory, orother programmable logic device and any combination thereof designed toperform the functions herein.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1, power source 300 includes a batterycharging system 310 and a battery 320. The battery charging system 310can be various sources of energy to yield DC power including, by way ofexample, solar, wind, wave, and rectified AC power sources. An array ofsolar cells mounted to adjustable panels (See FIG. 2, 312) is used insome embodiments and will be further described below. Battery 320 is a110 A, 12V battery or similar battery. An example of such a battery is110 A, 12V AGM battery manufactured by Fullriver. Those of skill in theart will appreciate that any suitable battery 320 alternative andvarious number of batteries in series (not shown) are contemplated asbeing within the spirit and scope of the invention. Other non-limitingconfigurations of the power source 300 may also be employed by thepresent embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2 and with continuing reference to FIG. 1, in someembodiments, deterrent system 100 includes solar panel 312. In anon-limiting embodiment, solar panel 312 of FIG. 2 is anyindustry-available panel, having a length, by way of example, to about49 inches and width of about 28½ inches. The size of the panel 312,itself is not limited by the number and size of individual solar cellsthat form the panel 312. It should be understood that different lengthsand widths are contemplated while different dimensioned individual andmultiple sets of strategically positioned panels 312 to form a largesolar array may be necessary to compensate for various dimensions of theareas to be energized. As illustrated in FIG. 2, solar panel 312 can beadjustably positioned, by way of example, above a pulse generator 200enclosure E to provide a conveniently accessible, but still scalableunit enclosing multiple pulse controllers 210 patterned in a series, andbattery 320. Inside enclosure E, the pulse controllers 210 and battery320 are protected from the elements and are easily accessible. Furtherfor the sake of convenience and protection, it is contemplated thatpulse controller 210 could be configured in a separate enclosure orenergizer box (See FIG. 2, 210) and further compartmentalized withinenclosure E. It should be understood by persons of ordinary skill in theart that enclosure E is constructed from any suitable material that isdurable and strong with an environmental rating for offshore marineplatforms or other types of manufactured structures. Such materialsinclude, by way of example, stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum,and blends thereof.

Turning to FIG. 3, an example substrate 400 is illustrated according toembodiments of the present disclosure. In FIG. 3, a docking-typesubstrate 400 is shown. In some embodiments, substrate 400 is adapted tobe securely fastened to the top surface of a boat landing or platform L,for example, or other grating surfaces used in manufactured structures.In FIG. 3, substrate 400 includes a lower layer 410, busbar platforms420, upper layer 430, electrode receiving slots 440 (See FIG. 4), anddocking substrate electrodes 510.

Referring to FIG. 4 and with continuing reference to FIG. 3, lower layer410 and upper layer 430 are made of non-conductive, plastic material,suitable for mounting to the top surface used for the landing L. Thoseof skill in the art will appreciate that any suitable materialalternative is contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of theinvention. Furthermore, depending on what type of surface the substratewill be mounted atop of, other materials, by way of example, that arecontemplated include recycled-wood composite and fiberglass.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower layer 410 is fastened and securedto the landing's L grating, using cap screw 412 and swivel nut (notshown). The cap screws 412 are received in the cap screw receiving holes414. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that any suitablefastener alternative is contemplated as being within the spirit andscope of the invention.

Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a pattern of drainage holes 416 areprovided to limit short-circuits and allow tidal waters and wavecrashes, as well as rain or condensation to easily drain away from theconductive path between the closely spaced plastic sections. Next,busbar platforms 420 are positioned in the busbar platform slots 422that are formed in the lower layer 410. Upper layer 430 is secured tolower layer 410 via bridges 432 that are secured in bridge receivingholes 434. Further, drainage holes 436 of the upper layer 430 arepatterned to align with lower layer 410 drainage holes 416. Dockingsubstrate electrodes 510 are secured to the upper layer 430 in theelectrode receiving slots 440 of the upper layer 430. Bus contacts 512of the docking substrate electrodes 510 form an electrical contact withthe associated busbar platforms 420, which are patterned in a transversedesign with the perpendicularly positioned electrodes 510. Theelectrodes 510 are evenly spaced apart to form patterns of conductiveand non-conductive regions on the substrate 400.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spacing of the electrodes 510 andthe number of electrodes 510, by way of example and depending on thesize of the surface area to be energized, can be spaced apart to form anodd number of electrodes 510, such that the resultant outer mostelectrodes are in common configuration. For example, in FIGS. 3 and 4,in a non-limiting embodiment, there can be about three sections ofmodular docking substrate 400, each connected to cover a designatedsurface area, such as the surface of a boat landing L on a manufacturedstructure. The skilled artisan will understand that patterning thedocking-type substrate 400 in an odd number (15 electrodes in FIGS. 3and 4) of electrodes 510 across the surface area of the landing L willform a complete circuit (See FIG. 1) when the pinniped having wet skincontacts the electrodes. Thus, with a complete circuit, the aversivepulses of the deterrent system 100 are not dependent on the number ofpinniped and their individual sizes. The system 100 is designed toorient and pattern the docking substrate 400 with the electrodes 510 ina fashion that targets any or all pinnipeds who have performed a hauloutonto the manufactured structure.

With reference to the electrical connections (not shown) between theelectrodes 500 (generally) and pulse generator 200, bundled cable wires(not shown) can be used. It should be understood that a wirelessconfiguration is contemplated by the embodiments disclosed. In addition,a wireless configuration is contemplated to support a deterrent systemfor a buoy (not shown) or other floating structures that pinnipeds usefor haulout sites.

Turning to FIG. 5, in some embodiments, another type of substrate 400can be implemented for manufactured structure surfaces having a radiusfor those surfaces that are otherwise not substantially flat. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, a beam B such as a support beam, pipe, or braceis shown as an example of another type of surface providing a hauloutsite on offshore marine platforms. The matting-type substrate 400includes a lower layer 450, an upper layer 460, straps 470, ratchetbuckles 480 for the straps 470, wire rope electrodes 520, rope electrodebuckles 522, and insulation carry loops 524.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 and with continuing reference to FIG. 5,lower layer 450 and upper layer 460 are made of non-conductive,flexible, plasticized material. An example of such material is polyvinylchloride fashioned in a duckboard design and manufactured by PlasticExtruders, Ltd., Russell Gardens, Wickford, Essex, SS11 8DN, England.The material should be available in rolls for ease of installation, andit should be easy to cut to size and shape. Those of skill in the artwill appreciate that any suitable material alternative with theforegoing characteristics is contemplated as being within the spirit andscope of the invention.

The matting-type substrate's 400 duckboard design limits short-circuitsand allow tidal waters and wave crashes, as well as rain or condensationto easily drain away from the conductive path between the closely spacedpolyvinyl chloride sections, as shown in FIG. 8. By way of example, wirerope electrodes 520 are positioned between upper layer 460 strands andsecured in place with rope electrode buckles 522. The electrodes 520 areevenly spaced apart to form patterns of conductive and non-conductiveregions on the substrate 400. Additionally, the wire rope electrodes 520terminate on one end in an alternating fashion forming coils. The coilscan be covered to provide an insulation carry loop 524 for ease ofhandling.

Referring back to FIG. 5, lower layer 450 is placed and conformed atop acurved surface B. Straps 470 are, by way of example, non-conductivestraps that will be easily interwoven between the upper layer 460 andlower layer 450. The substrate 400 can be fastened to the beam B withthe straps 470 and ratchet buckles 480. Those of skill in the art willappreciate that any suitable fastener alternative is contemplated asbeing within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate, as a temporary deterrentsystem used on demand, that substrate 400 shown in FIGS. 5-8 can be usedon substantially flat surfaces, including boat landings, gratedsurfaces, marina docks, and wharfs by way of rolling out thematting-type substrate 400 on top of the flat surface, securing thesubstrate 400 with suitable strapping and/or fasteners (not shown), thenremoving the substrate 400 by rolling the substrate 400 up.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that modificationscan be made to the pinniped deterrent system 100 without departing fromthe teachings of the invention.

The instant invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out inother ways without departing from the spirit or essentialcharacteristics thereof. The present disclosure is therefore to beconsidered as in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, thescope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and allequivalency are intended to be embraced therein. One of ordinary skillin the art would be able to recognize equivalent embodiments of theinstant invention and be able to practice such embodiments using theteaching of the instant disclosure and only routine experimentation.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical deterrent system to repel pinnipedsfrom structures that otherwise are not intended for pinniped use,comprising: an elongated non-conductive substrate element having a topsurface, the substrate element configured to conform to a planar orrounded surface of the structure; a plurality of electrodes attached toor adapted to be integrated within the top surface of the substrateelement, the electrodes are configured to deliver an electric current todamp or wet skin of the pinnipeds; a pulse controller in electricalcommunication with the electrodes, the pulse controller configured todirect delivery of the electric current to the electrodes as an aversiveirritant causing the pinnipeds to dismount from the surface of thestructure; and, a power source in electrical communication with thepulse generator.
 2. The electrical deterrent system of claim 1, whereinthe pulse controller creates a pulsed DC difference voltage betweenadjacent electrodes.
 3. The electrical deterrent system of claim 1,wherein a pulse duration can be adjusted between about 100 and about 300microseconds.
 4. The electrical deterrent system of claim 1, wherein thepower source is solar energy.
 5. The electrical deterrent system ofclaim 1, wherein the power source includes a batter charging system anda battery.
 6. The substrate element of the electrical deterrent systemof claim 1, further comprising: a lower layer; busbar platforms; anupper layer forming the top surface of the substrate element; electrodereceiving slots; and, drainage holes to allow tidal waters, wavecrashes, rain water, and condensation to drain away.
 7. The electricaldeterrent system of claim 6, wherein the electrodes are evenly spacedapart to form patterns of conductive and non-conductive regions on thesurface of the substrate element.
 8. The electrical deterrent system ofclaim 7, wherein the electrodes are sequenced in an odd number resultingin a pair of outer most electrodes having a common current flowconfiguration.
 9. The substrate element of the electrical deterrentsystem of claim 1, further comprising: a lower layer; an upper layerforming the top surface of the substrate element, wherein the upperlayer is fashioned in a duckboard to allow tidal waters, wave crashes,rain water, and condensation to drain away; straps; ratchet buckles;electrode buckles; and, non-conductive carry loops.
 10. The electricaldeterrent system of claim 9, wherein the electrodes are rope electrodespositioned between a plurality of strands of the upper layer.
 11. Theelectrical deterrent system of claim 10, wherein the substrate elementis available in rolls for ease of installation and removal.
 12. Anelectrical deterrent system to repel pinnipeds from structures thatotherwise are not intended for pinniped use, comprising: an elongatednon-conductive substrate element having a top surface, the substrateelement configured to conform to a planar surface of the structure, thesubstrate element further comprising: a lower layer; busbar platforms;an upper layer forming the top surface of the substrate element;electrode receiving slots; and, drainage holes to allow tidal waters,wave crashes, rain water, and condensation to drain away; a plurality ofelectrodes each received by the electrode receiving slots and fastenedthrough the lower layer, the electrodes are configured to deliver anelectric current to damp or wet skin of the pinnipeds; a pulsecontroller in electrical communication with the electrodes, the pulsecontroller configured to direct delivery of the electric current to theelectrodes as an aversive irritant causing the pinnipeds to dismountfrom the surface of the structure, wherein the pulse controller createsa pulsed DC difference voltage between adjacent electrodes; and, a powersource in electrical communication with the pulse generator.
 13. Theelectrical deterrent system of claim 12, wherein a pulse duration can beadjusted between about 100 and about 300 microseconds.
 14. Theelectrical deterrent system of claim 13, wherein the electrodes areelectrode strips.
 15. The electrical deterrent system of claim 14,wherein the electrode strips are evenly spaced apart to form patterns ofconductive and non-conductive regions on the surface of the substrateelement.
 16. The electrical deterrent system of claim 15, wherein theelectrode strips are sequenced in an odd number resulting in a pair ofouter most electrodes having a common current flow configuration.
 17. Anelectrical deterrent system to repel pinnipeds from structures thatotherwise are not intended for pinniped use, comprising: a flexibleelongated non-conductive substrate element having a top surface, thesubstrate element configured to conform to a planar or rounded surfaceof the structure, the substrate element further comprising: a lowerlayer; and, an upper layer forming the top surface of the substrateelement; a plurality of electrodes attached to or adapted to beintegrated within the top surface of the substrate element, theelectrodes are configured to deliver an electric current to damp or wetskin of the pinnipeds; a pulse controller in electrical communicationwith the electrodes, the pulse controller configured to direct deliveryof the electric current to the electrodes as an aversive irritantcausing the pinnipeds to dismount from the surface of the structure,wherein the pulse controller creates a pulsed DC difference voltagebetween adjacent electrodes; and, a power source in electricalcommunication with the pulse generator.
 18. The electrical deterrentsystem of claim 17, wherein a pulse duration can be adjusted betweenabout 100 and about 300 microseconds.
 19. The electrical deterrentsystem of claim 17, wherein the electrodes are rope electrodespositioned between a plurality of strands of the upper layer.
 20. Theelectrical deterrent system of claim 17, wherein the substrate elementis available in rolls for ease of installation and removal.